Convertible signal-lamp.



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W. s. HAMM. CONVERTIBLE SIGNAL LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l0 MODEL.

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No. 742,636. PATENTED 00T. 27, 190s. W. s. HAMM. Y

G0NVER'I'IBLE- SIGNAL LAMP.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY '1, 1903l No MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, .IPIJUIMLL um 2 mm nmnff` UNITED STATES WILLIAM S. HAMM,

atentea october 27, 1903.

PATENT Thron.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS AND IVESTLAKE COMPANY,H OF ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE SIGNAL-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Application filed May of which the following is a specification, refrents of air or rain.

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart thereof.

My invention relates to a semaphore-lamp the illuminating agent of which may be electricity or oil, as occasion may require, the lamp being readily convertible from an electric to an oil lamp should any accident occur to the electric attachments or the circuit in which they occur. Lamps of this character are placed along a railroad, sometimes at a considerable distance from a station, each lamp being provided with an electric-lamp attachment, which is normally used, and also with an oil font and burner ready for the illumination of the lamp by oil should the electric light give out or under other contingency. Upon such occurrence the towerman or other employee having charge of the lights upon observation or notiiication from a traincreW that an electric light is extinguished will proceed to the point indicated, remove the electric attachment from the top of the lamp, adjust the oil-burning devices, an light the burner. Heretofore a combination electric and oil semaphore-lamp has been employed in the use of which and in the converting of the lamp from electric to oil illumination the cap to which the electric fixtures are attached is removed and a cap specially adapted for use in connection with an oil-lamp substituted. the use'of such separate caps, for the reason that the one intended to be used for the oil attachments may when not in -service be lost or misplaced, thereby preventing the use of the oil-lamp, inasmuch as Without the cap the flame may become extinguished by cur- Therefore I employ but one cap equally applicable to the use of electricity or oil as the illuminant, which cap is hinged or otherwise permanently attached to the body of the lamp and cannot become de- 5o tached therefrom.

Other and more special features enter into In my invention I aim to avoid.VV

Letters Patent No. 742,666, dated october 27, 1903.

7,1903. Serial No. 156,025. (No model.)

my invention, as in the electric devices employed, means for adapting the lamp-cap to admit the wires, means to accomplishl theventilation of the interior of the lamp-body, and other features hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

It is known that there is considerable heat generated by an electric lamp, which heat creates moisture Within the lamp-body unless proper means are provided for allowing its escape therefrom. Without proper means for ventilation this moisture Weather collects upon the interior surfaces of the lenses and the lamp-body, causing frost to c over the lenses, thus reducing the effect- Viveness of the signals and in the case of the lamp-body causing corrosion or rust, thereby reducing its life. Special means are` therefore employed by me in connection With the lamp-body and the electric devices for allowing the passage of hot air from within the lamp to a point above said devices and thence to the outside of the lamp.

In the further description of my invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lamp or lantern illustrating my invention,

d .adapted to the use of electricity as the illumi- 2 is a similar view showing the electric-lamp devices removed and the lantern adapted to be lighted by oil. Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications hereinafter described. Similar numerals of reference indicate similarjparts in the respective figures. The body or casing of the signal-lantern (represented by l) has an upwardly-projecting portion 2 of lesser diameter, to which the cap 3, open at the top,is hinged, ahood 4benant. Fig.

ing secured to said cap to cover its open top. .Y

5 is a tube, preferably frusto conical, through which the products of combustion pass when an oil-lamp is used.

The above parts are common to lanterns of this type and require no further description.

A block or lamp-carrier 6, preferably of Wood, is secured to a cap-piece 7, a portion of said block being removed at one side, there being thus formed a recess 8. The block is of rectangular form in cross-section, and its Ioc io 11, riveted to the `4o mit the conducting-wires 17 and 5o closed by a vertically-sliding door 23.

or glow lamp 10 are inserted into the lantern through said tube. A spring cap 3, presses when said cap is closed upon the cap-piece 7 and holds the device in place. A socket 12, of the ordinary form and construction, is secured to the bottom of the block 6 for supporting the bulb 10.

The vertical wall of the recess S of the block 6 is covered with one or more sheets 13, of mica, rubber, or other non-conductor of electricity, on which sheets are placed two binding-posts 14 14, they being fastened to the block 6. These binding-posts are separated from each other, but connected by a fusible conductor 15. From the'lower binding-post 14 a wire 16 passes through the lower portion of the block 6 to the socket 12, Where it is attached to one part of the circuit-closer contained therein. One of the leads or conducting-wires 17 passes between the cap-piece 7 and the block 6 to a binding-post 13, which is connected by a Wire 19 to the upper binding-post 14. The other lead 2O is attached to asimilar binding-post (not shown) and passes behind the non-conductor The hinged cap 3 of the lantern has a notch 2l formed in its bottom edge where it laps over the upwardly-projecting portion 2, said notch being of such size and shape as to per- 20 to easily pass therethrough into the cap to the electric lamp. By means of this notch the hinged the conducting- 21 bridging them.

The lamp or lantern body 1 is adapted to receive an oi1-lamp 22, which may be inserted to and withdrawn from the body or casing through an opening in the side, preferably 6o place and the electric lamp 10 and its xtures, as seen in Fig. 1, removed. In the use of either illuminant, electricity or oil, the with its hinged cap 3, remains the same, the lantern, as before an electric to an oil lantern Without any change in the lantern-body or its adjuncts.

Between each of the flat sides of the block 6 and the curved surface of the tube 5 is a space through which the heated air may readily pass plete ventilation for the lantern.

In operation, a number of electric lamps being included in one circuit, the current passes through the leads or conducting-wires 17 20, the fusible conductor 15, and the filament of the lamp or bulb lO. Should the resistance in the circuit beyond the lamp be lessened, as by short-circuiting, might be increased to such a degree that the filament would be destroyed, which destructive action is, however, prevented by the fusible conductorl, which will melt before the current has increased sufficiently to burn out the lamp. Upon the extinguishment of the electric light the hinged cap 3 of the lantern may be thrown back on its hinge and the electric lamp and its fixture withdrawn, the conducting-wires being freed on raising the cap 3. The door 23 is then raised and the burner 24 secured to the oil-font 22 and lighted.

Certain features nec ion with my invention are claimed in application, Serial No. 156,912, W. Kerber, filed May 13, 1903, they forming no part of the improvement herein claimed by me.

I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction, combination, and arrangement herein set forth, being obvious that minor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention may be made by the skilled mechanic, and such departures from what is herein described and claimed not involving invention I consider as within the scope and terms of my claims. For example, in Fig. 3 the notch for the passage of the conducting-wires instead of being in the hinged cap is in the body of the lantern, and in Fig. 4 the liftable cap is shown permanently secured to the lamp-body by a chain or link attachment. Other departures from the constructions herein shown and described may be readily devised and yet be within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described claim- 1. The combination with a lantern having a cap, and provided with a fixed open-topped central draft-tube, of an electric-lamp carrier adapted to be supported by and Within said open-topped central draft-tube and to be removed therefrom, an aperture being furnished for the passage of the conductingwires, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a lantern, having a fixed open-topped central draft-tube and also a hinged cap, of an electric-lam p carrier adapted to be supported by and Within said open-topped tube and to be removed therefrom, and means provided in the lantern and carrier for permitting the escape of heated my invention, I

IOO

IIO

IIS

air from the lantern, said cap having au aperture for the passage of the conductingwires, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a lantern,having a iXed open-topped central draft-tube and also an attached liftable cap, of an electriclamp carrier adapted to be supported by and within said open-topped tube and to be removed therefroin,an aperture being provided for the passage of the cond ucting-wires, substantially as set forth.

4. A lantern, having an open-topped central draft-tube, combined with an electriclamp carrier adapted to be supported by and Within said open-topped tube, conductingwires attached to said electric-lamp carrier, means on said carrier for holding it within said tube, a non-detachable liftable cap hav ing a notch for bridging said conductingwires, and means for holding said carrier in position when the cap is closed, substantially as set forth.

5. A lantern, having an open-topped central draft-tube, combined with an electriclamp carrier adapted to be supported by and within said tube, conducting-Wires attached to said lamp-carrier, an aperture being provided for the passage of said Wires to the exterior of the lantern, means on said carrier for holding it within said tube, an attached liftable cap, and a spring, attached to said cap, for pressing on said carrier and holding v it in position when the cap is closed, substantially as set iorth.v

' 6. A lantern, having an open-topped central draft-tube, combined with a removable electric-lamp carrier adapted to be supported by and within said tube, a cap-piece on said carrier, a lamp-socket secured to the bottom of the carrier, conducting-Wires attached to the socket and passing out between said carrier and its cap-piece, an aperture being provided for the passage of said Wires to the eX- terior of the lantern, a liftable cap permanently attached to the lantern and independent of the lamp-carrier, and a spring for pressing on said carrier when the cap is closed, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a lantern having a cap, and provided with a fixed open-topped central draft-tube, of an electric-lamp carrier adapted to be supported by and vvithin said open-topped tube and to be removed therefrom, an aperture being passage of the conducting-wires, and means for holding said carrier in position when the cap is closed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

WILLIAM s. HAMM. [L sq Witnesses:

LOUIS V. EGGERT, ARTHUR E. LoNN.

furnished for the 

